Jenny, we need your help...

[Bas]

I used to have to plop myself into the first available seat and they make my way over at quarter or half time.

Ugg, well if things don't change then that is the solution for everyone. I'll probably get bagged by someone who likes watching the players facial expressions (with binoculars) at qtr time.

I have regularly in the past sat downstairs to watch the ressies just to get a different perspective on the ground. Then moved upstairs at half time or full time.

[Bas]

So you've spent 5 minutes swinging Indian clubs around with RC and you think you're Richard Simmons now??

Triple B, the only way is up - up to your seat!

Do you think the Swans could adapt this for our home games?

[Jenny]

Hi All,

Sorry for the delay in coming back to you. As I'm sure you can imagine, things are a little crazy around here as we try to get everything ready for this weekend.

Unfortunately, as I thought, the gate times and the start time of the Reserves match have been set and will not be able to change for this weekend. As Ugg said, if you have problems getting to your seat before the start of the match, I would recommend finding the closest seat to the gate and sitting there until you get a chance to move at quarter/half time.

I apologise that I could not be of more assistance. However, now that I am aware of this issue, I will be sure to stay across it for the season and hopefully we'll be able to do something for the later rounds and I'll now be able to make sure it's factored in when the planning begins for 2012.

Thanks,
Jenny

[Triple B]

Thx Jenny.

Fortunately ANZ is no problem for a lot of us, I sit in the Red Zone which is right near the gate. The SCG on the other hand is more difficult to get to the top deck of the Noble Stand in time, so if something can be arranged by the first SCG game, that would be great.

Maybe we should just arrange to get some 'press' passes for us to enter early...lol

[Triple B]

...and BTW, the 'just go to the nearest seat and wander up later' is not really a great option if your seat is not reserved.

I've sat in the same seat for near on 30 years and it may seem silly, even petty, but I'm a bit precious about that area and I like to sit there. Over the years you have people who also sit in the same seats and it's good to have a chat about last weeks game etc. with the 'friends' you have made over the years.

Not a biggie, just saying...

[Bas]

...and BTW, the 'just go to the nearest seat and wander up later' is not really a great option if your seat is not reserved.

Good point Triple B, I have the luxury of a reserved seat with the chardy set up in the Brewongle and forgot that your seats were unreserved.

What are you going to do when they pull the stand down?

[Primmy]

...and BTW, the 'just go to the nearest seat and wander up later' is not really a great option if your seat is not reserved.

I've sat in the same seat for near on 30 years and it may seem silly, even petty, but I'm a bit precious about that area and I like to sit there. Over the years you have people who also sit in the same seats and it's good to have a chat about last weeks game etc. with the 'friends' you have made over the years.

Not a biggie, just saying...

Absolutely 3B; the reason I started watching the ressies in the first place was to make sure I had a seat in front of the posts in the red zone, then got hooked on the game itself. I mean, what if someone actually sat in Your Seat! I have had said seat (or three up from it) since 1999! I don't think I could watch the game from anywhere else now. It would be pretty daunting, I am nibbling at a strand of hair just thinking about it!

[Triple B]

What are you going to do when they pull the stand down?

Find a spot that I like in wherever we are relocated (I believe we will be in the upper deck of the Trumper) and make sure I'm outside the gates before opening so I can again sit in my chosen spot.

[Jesse Richards]

From the discussions about this I am getting a vague feeling of disappointment and unease which I will try to put into words. It's as though the Club doesn't really think it is an issue, because the simple solution is move at quarter time. Problem solved. No, it isn't.

My vague sense of disapointment, unease and wariness comes from it's as though I am being told

1. Reserves games are unimportant (even some players have thought that)
2. Reserves watchers don't matter
3. Just sit anywhere - near enough is good enough
4. If you are frail or injured, we don't care...

No amount of protestation from the Club to the contrary will shift that feeling - quite the contrary, it will reinforce it, as in the past when "we value your feedback" and nothing changed.

The bottom line is why the Club made the decision in the first place (no-one comes to watch the Reserves), why hasn't it been changed (not enough people to be bothered about) and why is the Club powerless or unwilling to do so?

It is also pretty disrespectful to the families and fans from out of town clubs who travel long distances to play our Reserves in Sydney - no time to get in, choose a seat and settle in.

When GWS play in our Reserves' match at the SCG on 23 July will the gates open a mere 5 minutes before? If I were a GWS member wanting to see that game I'd be pretty annoyed that I only had 5 minutes to have my bags searched and get to my seat. Or will the gates be opened earlier - just for that occasion?

Jenny, I hope I have given you some more ammo to get this issue fixed. Good luck and thank you.

[Jenny]

Hi Jesse,

Thank you for your input.

I feel it is important that I make clear that my reply is in no way related to the importance of the Reserves team, or how much the Club values the support of those who arrive early to see their games. The issue I have faced was mostly to do with timing, given that this was only brought to my attention a week before our first home match and times had already been set.

I understand that this is an issue that impacts our members and their experience at the match. It's our job to make sure our members are getting the most out of their commitment to the Club - so please do not think I am taking this lightly.

My suggestion to move at quarter time was put forward as a temporary solution while I continue to work on this for you. As I stated previously, I will keep everyone up to date on any changes as the season progresses.

Thanks,
Jenny

[Primmy]

Ta Jenny,

I guess a lot of us are feeling somewhat disenfranchised again because for instance you can't get a "free" bus to the game at ANZ anymore until ressie half time. For years we got there just before the start of the game, but no more. The buses were cancelled on us. I now have to drive and pay $20 for parking, which is a bit of a chunk out of my expenses. Its just what Jesse has been saying. We are kind of left behind again. OK, maybe its Just the ressies, and no one else care. But we do. Vaguely scattered amongst the seagulls. But we are there.

[Triple B]

Ta Jenny,

I guess a lot of us are feeling somewhat disenfranchised again because for instance you can't get a "free" bus to the game at ANZ anymore until ressie half time. For years we got there just before the start of the game, but no more. The buses were cancelled on us. I now have to drive and pay $20 for parking, which is a bit of a chunk out of my expenses. Its just what Jesse has been saying. We are kind of left behind again. OK, maybe its Just the ressies, and no one else care. But we do. Vaguely scattered amongst the seagulls. But we are there.

Primmy, I guess you may be talking of the buses from the Hills Districts, but I've never been able to get the STA special event buses to arrive anywhere near the start of the ressies game, the first bus usually arrives about halftime. But I don't blame the Swans for that at all as I seriously doubt they can do anything about it or have any say.

For as long as I can remember, my wife has dropped all of us at a train station somewhere in the morning/afternoon and we make our way to the game via the train in plenty of time for the ressies. She then drives to Roselands (a no-brainer for anybody from the Sth-West) and makes her way on the bus to the ground in time for the seniors. We then all go home via the bus back to Roselands.

[Primmy]

I am on my own with transport, not within a bulls roar of a train, and have fatigue issues, so the 3/4k walk to my seat from the busstop is a challenge to put it mildly. My bus comes in from Glebe, and the first one arrived at least an hour earlier than they do now, and did so from our first game at ANZ, until last year when ANZ/AFL changed their minds about providing transport that got you to the ressie game before it started. Not full mind you, never that. Its just that for every game before 2010 you could get there in time and now you can't if you rely on bus transport as I did.

My footy friends come from the Hills and they have given up on the bus to the SCG as they said they didn't like being stressed out whether or not they were going to make it in before the first bounce of the seniors game.

Anyway, will be there with bells on and hoping Pyke gets a gig.

[Bas]

I got caught out for the first game last year at ANZ when I turned up early for the bus at Thompson's Corner and then had a 55 minute wait for a bus. Ressies at about half time wqas the arrival time.

Will probably catch a train in this time to get there early.

[Jesse Richards]

Thank you for your reply, Jenny. Much appreciated.